August 22, 2012

Nintendo 3DS XL unboxing and first impressions

Remember when I said I most likely would not get a Nintendo 3DS XL system? Well, I kinda did. See for yourself:

Strangely, the box is about half as big as the one the original 3DS came in.

The smaller box is a hint that the Nintendo 3DS XL doesn't include a charging cradle.

I was frankly shocked at how big the system actually was. It's massive!
Having owned both models of the Nintendo 3DS system now, what do I think of the upgraded XL version? In short, I love it. It solved all of the problems the original had that bugged me. The original had a strange reflective quality in the surface area surrounding the top screen. Problem solved. The stylus fit into a slot on the back of the original system. Problem solved: the stylus fits into a more convenient side slot on the XL. The top flap of the original stuck out over the bottom slightly, earning it the embarrassing nickname "muffin top". Problem solved. The boxy shape of the original dug into one's palms terribly. Problem solved...mostly. The XL is definitely more comfortable to hold than the original, but I still get the hand cramps at times.

I know many are disappointed that the Nintendo 3DS XL system doesn't have a built-in second analogue. If that bugs you, then go ahead and do your thing. I don't find it bothersome at all. I could complain about one or two things, though. These are minor issues, though, so keep that in mind. The XL is fairly heavy. I didn't expect much else, but it does feel a little out of balance that way. Also, I think the 3-D effect takes a hit because of the XL's low resolution. Turning the 3-D on makes a notable difference in the graphics...to me anyway. Fortunately I prefer to play in 2-D anyway, so no big deal.

Overall I think the Nintendo 3DS XL is superior to its smaller counterpart. I can honestly say I'm glad I made the upgrade.

4 comments:

  1. It's not like Nintendo can just glue on another analog stick, it would probably make the system bigger. Plus, the circle pad pro has another set of shoulder buttons. Not good for the interface :-/

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  2. I'm somewhat kicking myself because I got my 3DS just a few months before the XL was announced, so I missed out on the huge screen and awesome battery life.

    It's a shame that they didn't bump up the resolution a little bit though. I play primarily in 3D mode, so after reading what you said about the 3D not being as good on the XL, I'm feeling a little better about having the original 3DS.

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  3. I have been loving my 3DS XL. The big screens make games like OOT and Super Mario 3D Land look even better. Even though it has the same blur effect as the 3DS, DS games look nice on the big screen.

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  4. That D-Pad still looks too small. SF4 is too difficult to play on that thing.

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